§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the increases in rents for service family quarters in each of the last five years; and what are the planned increases. [18253]
§ Mr. SoamesThe average percentage increases in accommodation charges recommended by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body for service family quarters owned by the Ministry of Defence are given.
- 1992–93: 3.9–9.2 per cent.
- 1993–94: 1.5 per cent.
- 1994–95: 5 per cent.
- 1995–96: 5–8 per cent.
- 1996–97: 10–25 per cent.
Charges are recommended annually by the AFPRB, who have always followed the principle that charges levied on service personnel should compare fairly with the costs civilians have to incur for comparable housing. The AFPRB acknowledged this year that family quarter charges had slipped significantly behind comparable rents in the private sector and as such had recommended a significant increase in charges. It sees this as the beginning of a number of increases over the forthcoming years to close the gap, but these are not expected to be of the same magnitude as those recommended this year. The higher percentage increases have been applied to senior officers, while increases for junior personnel have generally been in the region of 10 per cent.
§ Mr. John TownendTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his written answer to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) of 26 February,Official Report, column 320, if he will place a copy of the information memorandum in the Library. [18944]
§ Mr. ArbuthnotAs I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier), the information memorandum has been issued to prequalified bidders on a commercially confidential basis. It would not, therefore, be appropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House.